tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48303325124736277242018-02-21T22:42:00.868-06:00Jeff Eats ChicagoChicago Restaurant Food Blog with Reviews and RecommendationsJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.comBlogger453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-81765510630193828162014-06-09T20:52:00.002-05:002014-06-09T20:52:50.945-05:00Cicchetti<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cicchetti/@41.89454,-87.622391,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x15456260c2029666">671 N St. Clair</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;Probably around $30-$40 per person<br /><br />Speaking of <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Italian">Italian</a> restaurants in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Streeterville">Streeterville</a>, there's one that just moved into the vacant spot on the first floor of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. My senior resident, Sonam, and I were going to get lunch when our coworkers Joel and Geoff honed in on the action. What was meant to be a quick Chick-fil-a run was sideswiped into a more formal affair (although we didn't bother to change out of scrubs). That's how we ended up trying <a href="http://www.cicchettirestaurant.com/">Cicchetti</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Cicchetti is right on St. Claire to the side of the NMH entrance. It has this nice internal connection so we don't even have to walk outside to get there. The interior design is really cool with these high rafters and plenty of wood. It's pretty popular right now, and you'll probably need a reservation for dinner. Lunch was no problem to walk in to. The cost is a bit up there for lunch. They've got a few sandwiches at $13 but otherwise the substantial dishes are between $15 and $30. Our waitress was very attentive and was able to get us back to work in a timely fashion.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />Everyone was pretty hungry and we got a few appetizers to start with. Nonna's Meatballs had this chunky sauce with bits of pancetta strewn throughout, making for a complex starter. The roasted mushroom pizza was also spot on. There was plenty of caramelized onion, and the crust was perfectly chewy with a snap to the first bite. The Anjou Pear Salad was well balanced and has had me hooked on pears for a while since.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwwksrOlv0g/U5ZgmDN5-wI/AAAAAAAAIN0/aW2Dh0hJD-s/s1600/Ciccheti+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwwksrOlv0g/U5ZgmDN5-wI/AAAAAAAAIN0/aW2Dh0hJD-s/s1600/Ciccheti+003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Meatballs</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5-EQO-lqn00/U5ZgoyBpE8I/AAAAAAAAIN8/r4dle550vls/s1600/Ciccheti+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5-EQO-lqn00/U5ZgoyBpE8I/AAAAAAAAIN8/r4dle550vls/s1600/Ciccheti+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Roasted Mushroom Pizza</i></div><br />For the "main course" we split the Braised Short Rib Ravioli and the Braised Pork Shoulder and Provolone Panino. The ravioli were delicate with these hearty shavings of parmesan over the top. The panini was my favorite item. The fried egg on top was perfectly runny and the giardiniera added a ton of flavor. The bread soaked up the oil from the pork and giardiniera along with the egg yolk to make for a fantastic bite.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zESbmVPg6aI/U5ZkaXa6pJI/AAAAAAAAIOI/aZ5uSyDbUbk/s1600/Ciccheti+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zESbmVPg6aI/U5ZkaXa6pJI/AAAAAAAAIOI/aZ5uSyDbUbk/s1600/Ciccheti+006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Braised Pork Shoulder Pannini&nbsp;</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHLB04luaPI/U5ZkcZZ8hqI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/FeUaR4ci9A0/s1600/Ciccheti+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHLB04luaPI/U5ZkcZZ8hqI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/FeUaR4ci9A0/s1600/Ciccheti+008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Braised Short Rib Ravioli</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />I'm well versed in hotel lobby restaurants, but hospital lobby restaurants are a whole other ballgame. I barely scraped the surface of this menu, and despite being open for lunch, this seems like a restaurant built for dinner. I've also heard the cocktails are fantastic. The panini and the meatballs were my favorite items. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/4%20Pearls">4 out of 5 Pearls</a> and hope to get back for dinner before skipping town.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wDArG6grtE/U5ZknTTepYI/AAAAAAAAIOY/_dflIIRSt4Q/s1600/4+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wDArG6grtE/U5ZknTTepYI/AAAAAAAAIOY/_dflIIRSt4Q/s1600/4+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1792223/restaurant/Streeterville/Cicchetti-Chicago"><img alt="Cicchetti on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1792223/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/CKn5FUGYY5k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com343http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/06/cicchetti.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-91737744895247638762014-05-26T16:10:00.001-05:002014-05-26T16:10:38.661-05:00Tre Soldi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tre+Soldi/@41.89267,-87.622022,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xc88c9b9177977f0b">212 E Ohio</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;Probably around $35 per person<br /><br />If you're a resident or medical student at Northwestern, you've probably noticed a decrease in the amount of free lunches entailing big slices of greasy rectangular pizza. That's because Pompei closed. I'm sure there are a few mourning the loss, but the other day my senior resident, Danielle, recommended I try out the new place that moved into the empty space, <a href="http://tresoldichicago.com/">Tre Soldi</a>. My Aunt and Uncle were in town on a business trip, so Jenny, my parents, and I met up with them to check it out.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Just a few steps up off the curb, Tre Soldi did a decent job of turning what was once an <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Italian">Italian</a> cafeteria into a moderately classy joint. They've got a room full of flat tops, and we sat right in the middle. We had a reservation but could've gotten by without one. Parking in the area is a pain so I suggest you take public transit if you can. The cost is reasonable with pasta dishes in the $15 range and protein based entrees sitting in the low $20's. The wine list has plenty of reasonably priced and moderate quality options. My uncle and the waiter became good friends, and our service was spectacular.<br /><b><br /></b><b>The Food</b><br />We got the ball rolling with a selection of their meats and cheeses, lamb meatballs, and stuffed zucchini blossoms. The accouterments pulled the meats and cheeses together nicely. The meatballs had plenty of acid but were a bit oily. I've never been one for zucchini blossoms but as far as they come these seemed good.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQhqUlFw1vo/U4Os2B500II/AAAAAAAAIMM/EX_rh9klBkg/s1600/Tanta+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQhqUlFw1vo/U4Os2B500II/AAAAAAAAIMM/EX_rh9klBkg/s1600/Tanta+035.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Zucchini Blossoms</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOi3Rc1LFYw/U4Os2ZPF6bI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/WFD0FB-FkKQ/s1600/Tanta+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOi3Rc1LFYw/U4Os2ZPF6bI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/WFD0FB-FkKQ/s1600/Tanta+037.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cheese Platter</i></div><br />For the main course we got a bunch of things but what stood out was the Salmon and the Cacio E Pepe. The fish was very mildly overdone but came across a chickpea puree that gave a nice textural balance to the dish. The pasta had a good chew with plenty of creamy, unctuous cheese.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4QZGGw5SQg/U4OtBy4tniI/AAAAAAAAIMU/cGkOit9GJi4/s1600/Tanta+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4QZGGw5SQg/U4OtBy4tniI/AAAAAAAAIMU/cGkOit9GJi4/s1600/Tanta+039.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cacio E Pepe</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVVTxlMmVhk/U4OtCi7lMHI/AAAAAAAAIMY/QVeGcYZpli4/s1600/Tanta+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVVTxlMmVhk/U4OtCi7lMHI/AAAAAAAAIMY/QVeGcYZpli4/s1600/Tanta+041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Salmon</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7FwO5ozBZM/U4OtC7eDRkI/AAAAAAAAIMc/vaUj38sq3ZM/s1600/Tanta+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7FwO5ozBZM/U4OtC7eDRkI/AAAAAAAAIMc/vaUj38sq3ZM/s1600/Tanta+044.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Halibut</i></div><br />For dessert we had some Gelato and the Fruit Crostata. Both were a refreshing end to the meal on what turned out to be a rather warm summer's night.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz3Ltn5_gaU/U4OtZvCxwfI/AAAAAAAAIMg/eHDeahymvXc/s1600/Tanta+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz3Ltn5_gaU/U4OtZvCxwfI/AAAAAAAAIMg/eHDeahymvXc/s1600/Tanta+049.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fruit Crostata</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UiAb96Pf3es/U4OtZ_w2rhI/AAAAAAAAIMk/VsHcgd7I-xM/s1600/Tanta+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UiAb96Pf3es/U4OtZ_w2rhI/AAAAAAAAIMk/VsHcgd7I-xM/s1600/Tanta+050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Gelato</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />In case you haven't caught onto the hints, Tre Soldi is definitely an upgrade from Pompei. It's a good, reasonable option for Streeterville, which definitely could use more quality, casual go to's. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/3.5%20Pearls">3.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_PEFufuuqU/U4Otid_0eoI/AAAAAAAAIMo/cuOnKC28ZQ4/s1600/3.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_PEFufuuqU/U4Otid_0eoI/AAAAAAAAIMo/cuOnKC28ZQ4/s1600/3.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1763442/restaurant/Streeterville/Tre-Soldi-Chicago"><img alt="Tre Soldi on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1763442/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/7KTXoh7b3ew" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com188http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/05/tre-soldi.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-67920591744804317192014-05-22T10:41:00.000-05:002014-05-22T10:41:56.627-05:00Bavette's Bar & Boeuf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bavette%27s+Bar+%26+Boeuf/@41.889338,-87.634946,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xc1577b1c6fe7f113">218 W Kinzie</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;About $70 per person<br /><br />Many of you may not know this, but I am not long for this city (more to come on the future of JEC). One of the reasons I've had less frequency of posting is because I've been going back to my favorite places that I've already written about. There are still some places on a bucket list of sorts though. My friend Ashley and I were in the mood for a good <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Steakhouse">steak</a>. She was finishing up a rotation of overnight shifts, and I was closing out my second month on the Transplant service, making a celebratory meal even more appropriate. So we ended up checking out <a href="http://bavetteschicago.com/">Bavette's Bar &amp; Boeuf</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Bavette's is off Kinzie just West of the Merchandise Mart. If you weren't looking for it, you'd walk right by. It's got a very dark and classy vibe with plenty of hard wood inside. They've got a lengthy bar where I enjoyed an old fashioned while waiting for Ashley to get off work. Getting a reservation is key and can be a bit tough during popular time slots. They also don't take parties larger than 6. Our service was spot on, although I don't know if our waiter picked up on Ashley's "limited" tastes when making recommendations. As with many steakhouses, the price depends on what you're going for, but they've got plenty of entrees around $30.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We got the meal started with the Smoked Whitefish Ceasar Salad and the Peppered Duck and Goat Cheese Terrine. Both dishes were great. The salad was heavy on the fish and had the right amount of thick, savory dressing. The terrine had a smooth texture that went well with the toast points when topped with the apricot preserves on the side. The goat cheese added more texture than flavor and was a bit lost in the dish to me though.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvM3BTwksnA/U31l3pwZM5I/AAAAAAAAIKs/_f17M1f5slg/s1600/Tanta+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvM3BTwksnA/U31l3pwZM5I/AAAAAAAAIKs/_f17M1f5slg/s1600/Tanta+002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Peppered Duck and Goat Cheese Terrine</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xwuqz7ZUdE/U31l4BU4oiI/AAAAAAAAIKw/T96q8VXzNBI/s1600/Tanta+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xwuqz7ZUdE/U31l4BU4oiI/AAAAAAAAIKw/T96q8VXzNBI/s1600/Tanta+003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Smoked Whitefish Ceasar Salad</i></div><br />From there Ashley got the Filet, and I got the Classic Ribeye. My steak had a simple salt rub. There was a sear on the top and a solid medium rare center. Like many of their steaks it came with a side of creamy bearnaise. For our sides we got the Elote Style Corn and the Buttery Mashed Potatoes. The corn had a spicy and creamy kick while the potatoes had plenty of garlic and this chicken gravy that put them just over the edge.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cUqGgDywNw/U31mLUI61aI/AAAAAAAAILU/ULH_TFayAyI/s1600/Tanta+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cUqGgDywNw/U31mLUI61aI/AAAAAAAAILU/ULH_TFayAyI/s1600/Tanta+012.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Ribeye</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hk1ZCwj6OuM/U31mKTfPPVI/AAAAAAAAILE/eh0dpEEm6Xs/s1600/Tanta+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hk1ZCwj6OuM/U31mKTfPPVI/AAAAAAAAILE/eh0dpEEm6Xs/s1600/Tanta+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Filet</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-R7YyzuaRk/U31mJzaTgqI/AAAAAAAAIK8/tDU20wa1NBs/s1600/Tanta+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-R7YyzuaRk/U31mJzaTgqI/AAAAAAAAIK8/tDU20wa1NBs/s1600/Tanta+007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Elote Corn</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSuY6OWTQBw/U31mKRc5beI/AAAAAAAAILA/ZNQnliJnwPY/s1600/Tanta+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSuY6OWTQBw/U31mKRc5beI/AAAAAAAAILA/ZNQnliJnwPY/s1600/Tanta+010.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Mashed Potatoes</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Bavette's just has that right steakhouse feel down. There's a classy yet trendy environment, a variety of price points, and a bunch of little twists on steakhouse standards. The only dish I would replace in my experience was the Terrine. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/4.5%20Pearls">4.5 out of 5 Pearls</a> and wish I had the time to go back before skipping town.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tAP9DrCW_70/U31mcqPu7kI/AAAAAAAAILc/UNKZpuz7-9s/s1600/4.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tAP9DrCW_70/U31mcqPu7kI/AAAAAAAAILc/UNKZpuz7-9s/s1600/4.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1696556/restaurant/River-North/Bavettes-Bar-and-Boeuf-Chicago"><img alt="Bavette's Bar and Boeuf on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1696556/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/Sb_1b67QJu0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com167http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/05/bavettes-bar-boeuf.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-90818141308000429962014-05-18T20:38:00.000-05:002014-05-18T20:38:04.625-05:00Dinner Lab<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> TBD<br /><div><b>Cost:</b> Annual membership for $175, individual events from $50-$95</div><div><br /></div><div>I got to check out a pretty interesting concept the other day when <a href="https://dinnerlab.com/chicago/joinus.html">Dinner Lab</a> invited me out. The way it works is that you sign up for an annual membership and then they have occasional dining events that you can join. Events happen every few weeks and are at an undisclosed location until the day prior. The setup is very communal and inviting, and the meals always have a cool theme.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-830DDkC64TQ/U3lfpAQnQmI/AAAAAAAAIJo/eVrj-buGEJ4/s1600/Tanta+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-830DDkC64TQ/U3lfpAQnQmI/AAAAAAAAIJo/eVrj-buGEJ4/s1600/Tanta+052.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>A few weeks ago, Jenny and I went to check out their collaboration dinner with Brooklyn Brewery.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Food</b></div><div>Our menu was broken down into five courses:</div><div><br /></div><div>1) Citrus Marinated Cobia</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8S1fZc8rUrg/U3lf7FlatOI/AAAAAAAAIJw/OhKPH0SO98c/s1600/Tanta+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8S1fZc8rUrg/U3lf7FlatOI/AAAAAAAAIJw/OhKPH0SO98c/s1600/Tanta+053.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>2) Smoked Melon Soup</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Clearly I was too eager for this one and forgot to take a pic.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>3) Egg in a Jar</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IbPvxPY5B1g/U3lgAuLROgI/AAAAAAAAIJ4/zPRaKa5cuhU/s1600/Tanta+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IbPvxPY5B1g/U3lgAuLROgI/AAAAAAAAIJ4/zPRaKa5cuhU/s1600/Tanta+059.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>4) Grilled Lamb Chops</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZLn2WpeqiQ/U3lgFoVxFEI/AAAAAAAAIKA/qVSeMxfkR44/s1600/Tanta+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZLn2WpeqiQ/U3lgFoVxFEI/AAAAAAAAIKA/qVSeMxfkR44/s1600/Tanta+066.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>5) Dark Berry Shortcake</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tkWWEPd_2a0/U3lgNZiufUI/AAAAAAAAIKI/le0Xv0ZH70s/s1600/Tanta+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tkWWEPd_2a0/U3lgNZiufUI/AAAAAAAAIKI/le0Xv0ZH70s/s1600/Tanta+067.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Overall</b></div>The whole idea is a lot of fun. There's this big communal vibe and we made friends with some interesting folks. The food was intriguing, tasty, and went well with the diverse beer pairings. I suggest you check it out for yourself at one of their upcoming events.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/XAT_ipM9Gjc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com90http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/05/dinner-lab.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-21762547089910518892014-05-08T21:20:00.003-05:002014-05-08T21:20:43.484-05:00Blue Door Farm Stand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blue+Door+Farm+Stand/@41.918276,-87.650256,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xdc578291f560ee46">843 W Armitage</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;About $15 per person<br /><br />This new place opened up down the block on Armitage from Jenny's apartment a little while back. We'd walked by it a bunch of times, and she'd been with a few friends, but it wasn't until the other weekend that I finally got to try out <a href="http://bluedoorfarmstand.com/">Blue Door Farm Stand</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Blue Door has an order at the counter and take a number for your table kind of operation. We plopped down on the edge of this communal table. They were pretty crowded for weekend lunch, but we were able to squeeze in. It probably took 10 minutes for our food to come out which I thought was reasonable. The cost isn't bad with plenty of sandwiches and salads around $10.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvrkq_mxDSo/U2w60E72MTI/AAAAAAAAIIs/tcv9WpmQlFw/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvrkq_mxDSo/U2w60E72MTI/AAAAAAAAIIs/tcv9WpmQlFw/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+063.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>The Food</b><br />Blue Door makes it clear that they locally source all of their ingredients. They even have this cool map in the corner that shows all of the farms they buy from. We split a French Tuna Salad Sandwich and the Couscous Salad. The tuna came on this great thick hoagie and was topped with red pepper, artichoke hearts, basil, and green beans. It was one of the better tuna sandwiches I've had in a while. It wasn't as good as <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2011/04/captn-nemos.html">Capt'n Nemo's</a>, but still. It came with a crispy kale chip covered in parmesan as a side. It was interesting and tasty, but significantly unfilling for a side. The salad was some special they were running. It was a huge portion of greens, sprouts, apple slices, nuts, cranberries, and couscous. There were too many sprouts to the point that the dish was difficult to eat/navigate. Also, Jenny got a cookie that was delicious.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3lpuSu9u1U/U2w6xBuz9dI/AAAAAAAAIIg/M24wobUv_Ow/s1600/Chef%27s+Burger+bistro+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3lpuSu9u1U/U2w6xBuz9dI/AAAAAAAAIIg/M24wobUv_Ow/s1600/Chef's+Burger+bistro+058.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The French Tuna Sandwich</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYZCip5w3Rk/U2w6w2F4I5I/AAAAAAAAIIY/SpITSSwO4Dw/s1600/Chef%27s+Burger+bistro+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYZCip5w3Rk/U2w6w2F4I5I/AAAAAAAAIIY/SpITSSwO4Dw/s1600/Chef's+Burger+bistro+059.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Couscous Salad</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhvWLdfgCwk/U2w6svULLII/AAAAAAAAIIQ/q2VUXBeojBY/s1600/Chef%27s+Burger+bistro+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhvWLdfgCwk/U2w6svULLII/AAAAAAAAIIQ/q2VUXBeojBY/s1600/Chef's+Burger+bistro+055.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Chocolate Chip Cookie</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />The concept of Blue Door is pretty cool and there's a very relaxed vibe to the whole place. Our food was hearty, tasty, and a good deal. As far as a weekend brunch goes, this was as quick and easy an option as any. I'm giving them <br /><a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/3.5%20Pearls">3.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obhvmb52jgs/U2w7LbHsGPI/AAAAAAAAIIw/FXWBlNaFzy0/s1600/3.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obhvmb52jgs/U2w7LbHsGPI/AAAAAAAAIIw/FXWBlNaFzy0/s1600/3.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1780366/restaurant/Lincoln-Park/Blue-Door-Farm-Stand-Chicago"><img alt="Blue Door Farm Stand on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1780366/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/GJDsqnEkAlE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com99http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/05/blue-door-farm-stand.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-10435669273110387282014-05-04T22:39:00.000-05:002014-05-04T22:39:27.440-05:00Tanta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tanta/@41.891714,-87.631994,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xa4a4aeda0445e264">118 W Grand</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;Probably around $50 per person<br /><br />With summer just around the corner, <a href="http://www.tantachicago.com/">Tanta</a> invited me out to take a peek at their new rooftop bar. They were generous enough to feed me while I was stopping by. So Jenny and I met up after work for a bite.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Tanta was packed when we rolled in on a weeknight around 7:30. They've got a somewhat tight dining area and a bar that's probably your only hope without a reservation. We had seats at the end of the bar and got to watch a bunch of the apps being made.<br /><br />Our waiter was very helpful, which was important since the menu is pretty diverse and takes some navigating. The service was efficient. The cost is relatively within your control. The entrees are mostly in the $25-$35 range. They have a wide variety of small plates in the low teens too.<br /><br />As far as the rooftop goes, they have a second floor opening with a lengthy bar. It opens within the next few weeks as the weather warms up. The wood laden patio gives a classy feel.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We started off with a bunch of small plates. The Nikei Cebiche was a plate of ahi tuna and avocado in a tamarind broth. The acid of the broth gave the dish a strong and savory bite. The Chalaco was a bay scallop sashimi plate with sweet potatoes and a very creamy aji amarillo sauce. The creamy sauce went well with the texture of the scallops. The Pobre was a simple bite of skirt steak topped with a quail egg and ponzu sauce. Despite the short time it lasted, the taste lingered for a while. After a quick breather they brought out the Pulpo (grilled octopus skewers) and the Causita Clasica. The causitas were unlike anything I'd had before. They make this whipped potato served at room temperature, and this one was topped with crab.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVzvN89lvWQ/U2cGMIKvuWI/AAAAAAAAIHE/jvG6xyNbOyg/s1600/Tanta+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVzvN89lvWQ/U2cGMIKvuWI/AAAAAAAAIHE/jvG6xyNbOyg/s1600/Tanta+016.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Nikei Cebiche</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miNF3xh-Fw4/U2cGM8h8AMI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/39Icvydmafg/s1600/Tanta+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miNF3xh-Fw4/U2cGM8h8AMI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/39Icvydmafg/s1600/Tanta+018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chalaco</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lm8rtsjgQ7U/U2cGMdu4HTI/AAAAAAAAIHI/J9W1e197t18/s1600/Tanta+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lm8rtsjgQ7U/U2cGMdu4HTI/AAAAAAAAIHI/J9W1e197t18/s1600/Tanta+020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Pobre</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dhLoVELNv0/U2cGN8c58GI/AAAAAAAAIHc/P6ZYte4sK6U/s1600/Tanta+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dhLoVELNv0/U2cGN8c58GI/AAAAAAAAIHc/P6ZYte4sK6U/s1600/Tanta+023.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Causita Clasica</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0ZHkzRHwts/U2cGO1zMgFI/AAAAAAAAIHk/tBEAX4yE4tI/s1600/Tanta+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0ZHkzRHwts/U2cGO1zMgFI/AAAAAAAAIHk/tBEAX4yE4tI/s1600/Tanta+025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Pulpo</i></div><br />As if we had any room left, they brought out the Pescado a lo Macho and the Chaufa Aeropuerto for a main course. The pescado was a grilled salmon and calamari with spicy potatoes in a creamy aji sauce. The Chaufa Aeropuerto was my favorite dish of the night. It was a pork fried rice (we had them sub in chicken) served in a hot stone bowl so that the exterior rice would get nice and crispy. It had a spicy garlic flavor and was probably the best fried rice I've had in years.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l0ZhSiwsTJc/U2cHIsS_HCI/AAAAAAAAIHw/a4XjIyVi_Zg/s1600/Tanta+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l0ZhSiwsTJc/U2cHIsS_HCI/AAAAAAAAIHw/a4XjIyVi_Zg/s1600/Tanta+028.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Pescado a lo Macho</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pa7phHkeKns/U2cHJ-h0QsI/AAAAAAAAIH4/5xvFDoHuTsE/s1600/Tanta+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pa7phHkeKns/U2cHJ-h0QsI/AAAAAAAAIH4/5xvFDoHuTsE/s1600/Tanta+033.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chaufo Aeropuerto</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />I'll have to be sure and get back to Tanta in a few weeks when the patio opens up. The fried rice, the fish, and the cebiche were my favorites. I suggest you head out there and try to eat through this diverse menu.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1779057/restaurant/River-North/Tanta-Chicago"><img alt="Tanta on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1779057/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/geqndTYHgQo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com38http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/05/tanta.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-75313140895760475722014-04-28T19:16:00.001-05:002014-04-28T21:02:27.604-05:00Chef's Burger Bistro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chef%27s+Burger+Bistro/@41.892046,-87.623056,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xea459bd64b05599a" target="_blank">164 E Grand</a></div><div><b>Cost:</b> About $20 per person</div><div></div><div>After a long day on the transplant surgery service, the team decided to go grab a meal and a drink. A bunch of us had been to <span id="goog_145502034"></span><a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2011/02/jake-melnicks-corner-tap.html">Jake Melnick's</a> so many times recently that we started looking for other nearby options. Then my senior resident reminded me how that armpit of a restaurant on Grand and St. Clair was bought out and remodeled. That's how we ended up at <a href="http://www.chefsburgerbistro.com/home">Chef's Burger Bistro.</a></div><div></div><div><b>Logistics</b></div><div>That restaurant I was talking about used to be a Boston Blackie's and the majority of the lot seemed to be taken up by the broken up parking lot in front. The remodeled Chef's Burger Bistro has this impressive front patio and a clean interior. They had plenty of TVs and a long bar. We plopped down at one of their larger high tops in the corner. Our waiter was friendly, the service was quick, but the food took a really long time to come out. The cost is&nbsp;so so&nbsp;with burgers in the $12 range that don't include fries. I was annoyed because I'd looked at an old version of the menu online before showing up that had lower prices, but I don't think I can really hold that against them.</div><div></div><div><b>The Food</b></div><div>We split a bunch of appetizers to get the ball rolling. The Fried Pickles were served in spears and had a great crunch. The Beet and Candied Walnut Flatbread had good topping coverage but the crust was mushy. Joel ordered the Deviled Eggs which were probably more cost than they were worth but had a good tang and creamy texture. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxA7q1Fhuqg/U17uqevp1sI/AAAAAAAAIFk/tDS4FfA3NVI/s1600/Chef%27s+Burger+bistro+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxA7q1Fhuqg/U17uqevp1sI/AAAAAAAAIFk/tDS4FfA3NVI/s1600/Chef's+Burger+bistro+048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Fried Pickles</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wLrSiBZ7MMg/U17utaidFwI/AAAAAAAAIF0/jIPIocroSJs/s1600/Chef%27s+Burger+bistro+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wLrSiBZ7MMg/U17utaidFwI/AAAAAAAAIF0/jIPIocroSJs/s1600/Chef's+Burger+bistro+049.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Beet Flatbread</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ElHjjz3Zc84/U17ur6V7siI/AAAAAAAAIFs/nLX4yrxpVXs/s1600/Chef%27s+Burger+bistro+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ElHjjz3Zc84/U17ur6V7siI/AAAAAAAAIFs/nLX4yrxpVXs/s1600/Chef's+Burger+bistro+050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Deviled Eggs</i></div></div><div>For the main course I went with the Paris Burger topped with onion jam, mushrooms, candied tomatoes, and brie cheese. The meat was an as ordered medium rare, and the topping made for a delicious mess. The brie got a bit oily, but the soft bun soaked everything up nicely. The table split some onion rings, regular, and sweet potatoe fries as well. Of the three, the wings were my favorite by far.</div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1q491U4CPA/U17u2Wd9HsI/AAAAAAAAIGI/5600OJcWCw8/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1q491U4CPA/U17u2Wd9HsI/AAAAAAAAIGI/5600OJcWCw8/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+052.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Paris Burger</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVzlh7aH9L8/U17u3m9LUzI/AAAAAAAAIGQ/qCF29cEzqMM/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVzlh7aH9L8/U17u3m9LUzI/AAAAAAAAIGQ/qCF29cEzqMM/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+053.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Onion Rings</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-Q9-iyrPjM/U17uyDtgQdI/AAAAAAAAIGA/My7IKbxnO48/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-Q9-iyrPjM/U17uyDtgQdI/AAAAAAAAIGA/My7IKbxnO48/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+051.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Brussel Sprout Salad</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tMo9DCrMww/U17u7Ej-ykI/AAAAAAAAIGg/mZ1ZMw98SjE/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tMo9DCrMww/U17u7Ej-ykI/AAAAAAAAIGg/mZ1ZMw98SjE/s1600/Chef%2527s+Burger+bistro+054.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Regular and Sweet Potato Fries</i></div><div></div><div><b>Overall</b></div><div>Chef's Burger Bistro takes a good stab at taking the burger menu up a level. I really liked the Paris Burger, but I thought everything else was somewhat unimpressive. I'm glad it replaced the prior tennants though. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/3%20Pearls">3 out of 5 Pearls</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ymUtURGd3k/U17u7CJuxZI/AAAAAAAAIGc/uDg7LEbOtoM/s1600/3%252BPearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ymUtURGd3k/U17u7CJuxZI/AAAAAAAAIGc/uDg7LEbOtoM/s1600/3%252BPearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1818411/restaurant/Streeterville/Chefs-Burger-Bistro-Chicago"><img alt="Chef's Burger Bistro on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1818411/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/jGaT_DPWQRk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com35http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/04/location-164-e-grand-cost-about-20-per.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-65122888381634428022014-04-21T18:47:00.000-05:002014-04-21T18:47:49.067-05:00County Barbeque <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/County+Barbeque/@41.869449,-87.661142,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xcd182812380df2e4" target="_blank">1352 W Taylor</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $25 per person<br /><br />I was tired of Jeremy getting crumbs all over the carpet with his sub sandwiches, so I suggested we go grab some <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/BBQ" target="_blank">BBQ</a> the other night. After a lengthy debate about where we should hit up we ended up driving a bit out west to sample <a href="http://dmkcountybarbeque.com/" target="_blank">County Barbeque</a>, one of the newer ventures from the DMK group.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />We got to County Barbeque at the absolute worst time, around 7:15 PM on a Thursday. It was that perfectly wrong time where the early dinner wave had just gotten up and all new people had just sat down. It's worth mentioning that the restaurant is rather small with limited seating and not much room to stand and wait. Around 8, two spots opened at the bar, and we snatched them up. Cost wise it's pretty solid. Most main dishes are just above $10, but I'd recommend getting a few things based on the portions.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />Jeremy and I are hooked on Rib Tips which made the entree choice simple. From there we also got some Fried Pickles and Okra, a Hot Link, the Mac n Cheese, and the Blackened Cauliflower. The tips were plenty juicy with a decent exterior char. I wouldn't put them at the level of <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2013/01/honey-1-bbq.html" target="_blank">Honey 1</a>, but they held their own. The fried pickles and okra had an interesting grainy exterior. The hot link was plenty spicy and smokey. The mac was very heavy on the cheese which kept Jeremy happy. The Cauliflower was my favorite side with a great texture and a fresh sprinkling of cheese across the top.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jpfL-vLwcI/U0xi9PPNbzI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/aOtI4FbXIeI/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jpfL-vLwcI/U0xi9PPNbzI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/aOtI4FbXIeI/s1600/Eddie+V's+187.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Rib Tips</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1GSnU68JEI/U0xi9TBExWI/AAAAAAAAIEU/bs0wDebmB2g/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1GSnU68JEI/U0xi9TBExWI/AAAAAAAAIEU/bs0wDebmB2g/s1600/Eddie+V's+190.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Fried Pickles and Okra</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KamT4Vmp88I/U0xi9LQLgDI/AAAAAAAAIEM/GR6E_C5qw34/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KamT4Vmp88I/U0xi9LQLgDI/AAAAAAAAIEM/GR6E_C5qw34/s1600/Eddie+V's+191.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Hot Link</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DN6vXs6jSgQ/U0xi-qGX0BI/AAAAAAAAIEk/uiBobYw0YCs/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DN6vXs6jSgQ/U0xi-qGX0BI/AAAAAAAAIEk/uiBobYw0YCs/s1600/Eddie+V's+192.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Blackened Cauliflower</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lPeqSR7l7I/U0xi_MyRx4I/AAAAAAAAIEo/31Qvpf1ao_4/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lPeqSR7l7I/U0xi_MyRx4I/AAAAAAAAIEo/31Qvpf1ao_4/s1600/Eddie+V's+194.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Mac n' Cheese</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />County Barbeque is a tiny place that has a very homey feel. The staff was small and very chummy with the customers. The BBQ was refined and well prepared. I'm usually in the camp of bigger portions, lower costs, and poor atmosphere. Still, it was a great place to watch a Hawks game and fill up. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/4%20Pearls" target="_blank">4 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P2pXHIeb8k/U0xjQS4U1kI/AAAAAAAAIE0/t5N-kKJR9mY/s1600/4+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P2pXHIeb8k/U0xjQS4U1kI/AAAAAAAAIE0/t5N-kKJR9mY/s1600/4+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1766785/restaurant/Little-Italy/County-Barbeque-Chicago"><img alt="County Barbeque on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1766785/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/8Nws_MjFFJs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com47http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/04/county-barbeque.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-82952772115894766812014-04-14T16:58:00.004-05:002014-04-14T16:58:52.056-05:00Kinzie Chophouse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kinzie+Chophouse/@41.88931,-87.634197,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x7b91028e52c21d8b" target="_blank">400 N Wells</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> Probably around $75 per person<br /><br /><div>I realized the other day that I'd skipped over a meal I meant to post about a few months ago. It was actually a restaurant week outing that my buddy Geoff and I went on. We were in the mood for <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Steakhouse" target="_blank">steak</a> and went scouring through the deals each restaurant was posting. We pushed aside all of the places offering pettite filets and finally decided on <a href="http://www.kinziechophouse.com/" target="_blank">Kinzie Chophouse</a>.</div><div></div><div><b>Logistics</b></div><div>We made a reservation which wasn't all that difficult in the middle of the week. After work we swapped out the scrubs for some button downs and drove over. There's a good amount of pay for parking on the street, and it's near the Merchandise Mart stop too if you want to take public transportation. I thought our waiter was trying to sell the specials a bit hard especially when we made it clear we wanted the restaurant week deal. Our food came out in a timely fashion though, and despite the crowded dining room, I didn't feel overly claustraphobic or rushed. We went with the $44 deal, but the typical steak runs in the $40 range if that gives you any better idea on pricing.</div><div></div><div><b>The Food</b></div><div>We both started off with the Chopped Brussel Sprout Salad. It was simple and crisp. This was one of the few times I had hoped for more dressing on my salad though.</div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWIbG2kFMr8/U0xZSyUBpcI/AAAAAAAAIDc/omTwXlleJ3M/s1600/Vapiano+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWIbG2kFMr8/U0xZSyUBpcI/AAAAAAAAIDc/omTwXlleJ3M/s1600/Vapiano+002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Brussel Sprout Salad</i> </div><div></div><div>Next we went with the Mushroom Soup. It was heavy cream based and very rich. The bigger chunks of mushroom were a nice touch, and there was a bit of a peppery kick at the end to round things out.</div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ3hL6hBSyo/U0xZdwXcY_I/AAAAAAAAIDk/-QaqFn1XhyE/s1600/Vapiano+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ3hL6hBSyo/U0xZdwXcY_I/AAAAAAAAIDk/-QaqFn1XhyE/s1600/Vapiano+004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Mushroom Soup</i> </div><div></div><div>The steak on the pre fixe was a Del Monico and came with a side of fingerling potatoes and green beans. Mine was prepared on the rarer side of medium rare (just how I like it). It was well seasoned, and the cut wasn't too fatty. The sides were simple but let the steak stand out well.</div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9YSGKMfL9w/U0xZpTolkSI/AAAAAAAAIDs/Rov_6elFOGE/s1600/Vapiano+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9YSGKMfL9w/U0xZpTolkSI/AAAAAAAAIDs/Rov_6elFOGE/s1600/Vapiano+007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Del Monico</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>For dessert they this Pecan Pie of sorts. It was gooey and delicious with plenty of ice cream on top.</div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3WMYSKnhHU/U0xZxAUzHsI/AAAAAAAAID0/OTrKF4wbCnQ/s1600/Vapiano+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3WMYSKnhHU/U0xZxAUzHsI/AAAAAAAAID0/OTrKF4wbCnQ/s1600/Vapiano+009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Pecan Pie</i> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Overall</b></div><div>It's hard to judge a restaurant on its restaurant week menu, but I thought Kinzie Chophouse held up nicely. My steak was prepared well, and there were no big or flashy gimmicks that many steakhouses seem to be pushing heavily these days. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/3.5%20Pearls" target="_blank">3.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfhonzPfKig/U0xZ4_-X6SI/AAAAAAAAID8/fO634P6VIOM/s1600/3.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfhonzPfKig/U0xZ4_-X6SI/AAAAAAAAID8/fO634P6VIOM/s1600/3.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/13798/restaurant/River-North/Kinzie-Chophouse-Chicago"><img alt="Kinzie Chophouse on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/13798/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/HmmnhHft5z4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com91http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/04/kinzie-chophouse.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-70816437270619180482014-04-07T20:38:00.001-05:002014-04-07T21:20:40.053-05:00Range<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/1119+W+Webster+Ave/@41.921427,-87.656728,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x880fd31dc252cfed:0x180e287f8f413c1d" target="_blank">1119 W Webster</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $15 per person (for brunch at least)<br /><br />After we finished our residency program's in service examination there was an after party of sorts. One of my friends from the urology department, Laurie, happened to be there to join in on the fun. We got to talking about dead restaurant locations. You know that place that no matter what moves in seems to go out of business in a few months. I think 1119 W Webster is a great example. Laurie pointed out that current tenant, <a href="http://rangechicago.com/" target="_blank">Range</a>, happens to be very good and that she hopes it stays for a while. So the other weekend Jenny and I decided to trek over there and check it out.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Range is a restaurant split in two by a divider. To the right is a bar area with some high tops and booths. To the left is a more causal sit down area. They also have some back of the restaurant party areas that we didn't venture into. Our service was quick and friendly. The cost for <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Brunch" target="_blank">brunch</a> was to be expected. Each dish was around $10.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvC8ZvoAztg/U0NSuyeigNI/AAAAAAAAIC8/iiBi2WmU-3U/s1600/eyecare+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvC8ZvoAztg/U0NSuyeigNI/AAAAAAAAIC8/iiBi2WmU-3U/s1600/eyecare+021.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>The Food</b><br />Our order was simple. Jenny got the Chicken Sandwich and I got the Hangover Sandwich. Her chicken came with an aioli and orange pepper glaze with some cheddar over a ciabatta roll. She loved it though I fear Jenny would love any chicken sandwich without bias. The hangover sandwich was pretty good too. It was two eggs over hard with pulled pork, peppers, and a cranberry shallot jam. The cranberries gave it this whole thanksgiving feel. The bread was soft and soaked up all of the flavors well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt-tTHyKoSI/U0NSfTBMg6I/AAAAAAAAICo/5kNmnSJQfzY/s1600/eyecare+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt-tTHyKoSI/U0NSfTBMg6I/AAAAAAAAICo/5kNmnSJQfzY/s1600/eyecare+016.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chicken Sandwich</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj3x5GnwNpc/U0NShC7FIEI/AAAAAAAAICw/zcdhuJM8YDQ/s1600/eyecare+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj3x5GnwNpc/U0NShC7FIEI/AAAAAAAAICw/zcdhuJM8YDQ/s1600/eyecare+018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Hangover Sandwich</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />I'm with Laurie in that I hope Range stays around a bit (at least until I leave town in a few months). We didn't begin to break down the menu, but our sandwiches were solid. If you're looking for a good savory brunch, Range is not a bad choice. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/4%20Pearls" target="_blank">4 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EojDbNr6_iM/U0NSwIiVb5I/AAAAAAAAIDA/SQ-xxqcdU6s/s1600/4+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EojDbNr6_iM/U0NSwIiVb5I/AAAAAAAAIDA/SQ-xxqcdU6s/s1600/4+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1785337/restaurant/Lincoln-Park/Range-Chicago"><img alt="Range on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1785337/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/NJMUJozsLSk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com103http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/04/range.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-9127767172060657132014-03-30T21:38:00.001-05:002014-03-30T22:01:54.331-05:00Eddie V's<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location: </b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/521+N+Rush+St/@41.8912568,-87.6253654,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x880e2cac386afad7:0xbbe6d71b91e09465" target="_blank">521 N Rush</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> Probably around $50 per person<br /><br /><b> </b><br />I've always been prone to ordering fish at a <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Steakhouse" target="_blank">steakhouse</a>. I'm a big fan of the steakhouse atmosphere but the guilt from my dietician/mom pushes me one way. <a href="https://www.eddiev.com/" target="_blank">Eddie V's</a> is a new spot in town that does a nice job with both <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Seafood" target="_blank">fish</a> and steak with a menu that weighs heavier to the former. They're a chain that started in the South and has put their first midwest location in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/River%20North" target="_blank">River North</a>. They keep a policy that anything they serve was swimming within 72 hours which helps quell any concerns over the freshness of seafood in Chicago too. The other night, they invited Jenny and I out.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Eddie V's welcomes you in with a lively bar. They had a jazz combo in the corner, a bunch of bar seats, and a few comfy booths. Further back they have a more formal dining room setting. We took a bar top, the courses were well timed, and the service was friendly. They treated us to dinner, but normally an entree runs around $30.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We started with their selection of Raw Oysters and the Lobster Tacos. The oysters had great variability in brine and salt. It was Jenny's first oyster, and she was a big fan. The lobster tacos had a smooth aioli and came on a homemade tortilla. As if that wasn't enough to start with, we also split a bowl of the lobster and shrimp bisque. The lobster to bisque ratio was very favorable.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYn34ljSPLI/UzjTZgNeKkI/AAAAAAAAIA4/T4uZirbNYpk/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYn34ljSPLI/UzjTZgNeKkI/AAAAAAAAIA4/T4uZirbNYpk/s1600/Eddie+V's+198.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Oysters</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9GJ4Q86oBY/UzjTZ5RMvjI/AAAAAAAAIA8/MNWU_4-T7Ek/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9GJ4Q86oBY/UzjTZ5RMvjI/AAAAAAAAIA8/MNWU_4-T7Ek/s1600/Eddie+V's+200.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Lobster Tacos</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3L9dSNsFyXg/UzjTaPGOMLI/AAAAAAAAIBA/ps37mtHn9EU/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3L9dSNsFyXg/UzjTaPGOMLI/AAAAAAAAIBA/ps37mtHn9EU/s1600/Eddie+V's+202.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Shrimp and Lobster Bisque</i> </div><br />From there Jenny got the Sea Bass, and I got the Grouper. We also had a bunch of sides including the Brussel Sprouts, the Au Gratin Potatoes, the Crab Fried Rice, and the Beets with Walnuts. The bass came in a light soy broth with pickled ginger. It was steamed and very delicate. The Grouper was sauteed in a buttery sauce with a light base. Jenny's favorite side was the fried rice, and mine was the brussel sprouts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfjxbg8oOzU/UzjTwj8x1AI/AAAAAAAAIBU/UGEdZ_GpZPQ/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfjxbg8oOzU/UzjTwj8x1AI/AAAAAAAAIBU/UGEdZ_GpZPQ/s1600/Eddie+V's+205.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Crab Fried Rice</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUNYOlaPKhI/UzjTwvAADgI/AAAAAAAAIBY/YVn4gQ-KL4E/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUNYOlaPKhI/UzjTwvAADgI/AAAAAAAAIBY/YVn4gQ-KL4E/s1600/Eddie+V's+206.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Roasted Beets and Candied Walnuts</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mmF2tefQB4/UzjTwNPd9HI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/aHUGta9U3l0/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mmF2tefQB4/UzjTwNPd9HI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/aHUGta9U3l0/s1600/Eddie+V's+209.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Au Gratin Potatoes</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfv3llI3QDY/UzjTxSphlXI/AAAAAAAAIBo/RfZtxE7VVvs/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfv3llI3QDY/UzjTxSphlXI/AAAAAAAAIBo/RfZtxE7VVvs/s1600/Eddie+V's+211.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Chilean Sea Bass</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujdbe5cwzNg/UzjTyBMCZhI/AAAAAAAAIBs/R_fovSREhy0/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujdbe5cwzNg/UzjTyBMCZhI/AAAAAAAAIBs/R_fovSREhy0/s1600/Eddie+V's+214.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Grouper</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ0iAm2vHfM/UzjTy1LG0lI/AAAAAAAAIB0/unnpMhUEAHQ/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ0iAm2vHfM/UzjTy1LG0lI/AAAAAAAAIB0/unnpMhUEAHQ/s1600/Eddie+V's+216.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Brussel Sprouts</i></div><br />To finish the meal we got the Banana's Foster Butter Cake with Butter Pecan Ice Cream served flambe style. It was rich and dense with just the right amount of sweetness. We didn't think we'd have room, but it ended up being one of our favorite parts of the meal.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcPUxwFYyxc/UzjUnA5DVTI/AAAAAAAAICE/mvkkaJOSfvY/s1600/Eddie+V%27s+219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcPUxwFYyxc/UzjUnA5DVTI/AAAAAAAAICE/mvkkaJOSfvY/s1600/Eddie+V's+219.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Banana's Foster Butter Cake</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Eddie V's has a large variety of seafood options with a great atmosphere. I'd come back for the music alone, but the food was spot on as well. I'm excited to go back and get through some of the rest of the menu. There won't be a Pearl rating as is my way with the complimentary dinners, but I highly advise you to try out Eddie V's.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1803537/restaurant/Magnificent-Mile/Eddie-Vs-Prime-Seafood-Chicago"><img alt="Eddie V's Prime Seafood on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1803537/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/nzHsorrPQ1I" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com27http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/03/eddie-vs.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-32922758106842442032014-03-17T19:16:00.002-05:002014-03-17T19:17:04.767-05:00Adobo Grill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Adobo+Grill/@41.9115195,-87.6348438,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x18848d0a76392d6b!5m1!1e1" target="_blank">1610 N Wells</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;About $30 per person<br /><br />It may surprise you, but there are still some places in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Old%20Town" target="_blank">Old Town</a> that I haven't eaten at. I used to dig <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2012/07/las-pinatas.html" target="_blank">Las Pinatas</a> for simple tex mex, but they closed down. So in this weeks version or Pearl Family Early Bird Sunday Dinner, we went to <a href="http://www.adobogrill.com/oldtown/index.aspx" target="_blank">Adobo Grill</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Adobo Grill is just North of North on Wells in that jumble of places that people often eat at before going to Second City. We just happened to be craving <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Mexican" target="_blank">Mexican </a>food and be in the area. They've got a great patio in the summer that obstructs just enough of the sidewalk to be a bother. The front area is a lively bar setup, and they've got some calmer seating in the back. We had quick service. Entrees are in the $17 ballpark which puts it at a little higher pricing than many Mexican places, but it's also got a nicer vibe.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We got the table side guacamole to start with. It's always a bit gimmicky for my taste, but the portion was sizable.We split an Adobo Chopped Salad and a few special Mushroom Soups after that. The salad was your typical Southwest variety, but the soup was a well balanced cream base with plenty of kick. From there we got the Carne Asada and the Pechuga. The steak was an accurate medium rare and came in a basic jus. There were a few stringy pieces, but it was a good deal. The Pechuga was more or less Chicken Mole with a twist. The mole was complex but the chicken was a little tough for my liking.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5gMGC9GEaI/UyeQGWHce0I/AAAAAAAAH_s/p9ae_7xzjbI/s1600/Kan+Zaman+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5gMGC9GEaI/UyeQGWHce0I/AAAAAAAAH_s/p9ae_7xzjbI/s1600/Kan+Zaman+066.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Adobo Chopped Salad</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DInzpbEp_BQ/UyeQHHxhu7I/AAAAAAAAH_0/cufEJWNuyZ0/s1600/Kan+Zaman+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DInzpbEp_BQ/UyeQHHxhu7I/AAAAAAAAH_0/cufEJWNuyZ0/s1600/Kan+Zaman+068.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Mushroom Soup</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-VZ3OPkR2Q/UyeQHGuwBOI/AAAAAAAAH_4/3SMub3_-Isg/s1600/Kan+Zaman+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-VZ3OPkR2Q/UyeQHGuwBOI/AAAAAAAAH_4/3SMub3_-Isg/s1600/Kan+Zaman+070.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Carne Asada</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PLOZQx3PEY/UyeQJJI5dGI/AAAAAAAAIAE/GF6yR5N0Eec/s1600/Kan+Zaman+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PLOZQx3PEY/UyeQJJI5dGI/AAAAAAAAIAE/GF6yR5N0Eec/s1600/Kan+Zaman+072.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Pechuga</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />For people heading to Second City that want a nearby option, Adobo Grill is good enough. Otherwise, I wouldn't try to hard to hit them up when this city has so many amazing Mexican options. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/2.5%20Pearls" target="_blank">2.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDiVIKBoj_Y/UyeQVbqCJGI/AAAAAAAAIAM/x3BK7Q4cJF8/s1600/2.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDiVIKBoj_Y/UyeQVbqCJGI/AAAAAAAAIAM/x3BK7Q4cJF8/s1600/2.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/10076/restaurant/Old-Town/Adobo-Grill-Chicago"><img alt="Adobo Grill on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/10076/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/BZwCTt5gAEo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com19http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/03/adobo-grill.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-26829718418365800202014-02-24T12:55:00.000-06:002014-02-24T12:55:16.267-06:00Hash House A Go Go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hash+House+a+Go+Go/@41.9043566,-87.6287547,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x6e9ea2f5b08ef5f7" target="_blank">1212 N State</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $20 per person<br /><br />Maybe it was the way I was raised, but I'm pretty anal about being on time to things. As far as <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Brunch" target="_blank">brunch</a> goes, I have this growing anxiety that every minute we delay getting to the restaurant is a chance for the wait to double. Jenny doesn't seem to share the same urgency all the time. She often gets mad when I hurry her along, but what makes it worse is when we get there five minutes late only to be the first ones to arrive. Thus was the case a few weekends ago when Schneider, Julie, Jeremy, Ricky, and Rachel met us for brunch at <a href="http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/chicago/" target="_blank">Hash House A Go Go</a>.<br /><br /><i>Note: my friends are the worst.</i><br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Hash House A Go Go is just north of Division on State in the heart of the <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Gold%20Coast" target="_blank">Gold Coast</a>. They have a large main level with bar and table dining alike. They also have a basement where we got sat along with some of the larger groups. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait too long despite the big crowd. Unfortunately, they were understaffed downstairs, and the meal moved along a bit slowly. The mantra of the menu is clearly the bigger the better. You end up paying around $16 per plate but get about twice the food of your average brunch spot.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYeYs95zzfQ/UwrIrAheEtI/AAAAAAAAH-o/Qsuwiyt8Qz4/s1600/Chen%27s+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYeYs95zzfQ/UwrIrAheEtI/AAAAAAAAH-o/Qsuwiyt8Qz4/s1600/Chen's+069.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>The Food</b><br />Most everyone ordered either the <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Chicken" target="_blank">Chicken</a> and Waffles or the Chicken with Bacon Mashed Potatoes, Eggs, and Biscuits. The chicken comes out with this thick, crispy, fried coating and a maple syrup drizzle. I thought it was a bit dry but had a complex flavor profile. My biscuit was too dense. Jenny fought the mold by getting the Banana Pancake. As was the chicken, this portion was gigantic. It was one huge, thick pancake that kept a nice texture with plenty of bananas. I thought the mashed potatoes were an interesting twist on typical breakfast potatoes and were probably the best thing on the plate.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ug83SKGvsiM/UwrH0lIePgI/AAAAAAAAH-Q/yQoSAsCZex8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ug83SKGvsiM/UwrH0lIePgI/AAAAAAAAH-Q/yQoSAsCZex8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+056.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Andy's Sage Fried Chicken Benedict with Maple Reduction</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFDDBngikR0/UwrH1Drc0rI/AAAAAAAAH-U/sHLVOHlysJw/s1600/Kan+Zaman+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFDDBngikR0/UwrH1Drc0rI/AAAAAAAAH-U/sHLVOHlysJw/s1600/Kan+Zaman+058.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Banana Pancake</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />I feel like I'm going to catch some flack for this, but I wasn't all that impressed with Hash House A Go Go. Everyone was all excited about the monstrous portions and the pumped up fried chicken breakfast dishes, but I thought quality took a big hit for quantity. The flavors were somewhat overwhelming while the textures of the biscuit and the chicken missed the mark. On the other hand, I'd eat those potatoes all day. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/2%20Pearls" target="_blank">2 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yps-C8t_-BA/UwrIiVtbacI/AAAAAAAAH-g/MGU78qJJVOU/s1600/2+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yps-C8t_-BA/UwrIiVtbacI/AAAAAAAAH-g/MGU78qJJVOU/s1600/2+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1692287/restaurant/Gold-Coast/Hash-House-a-Go-Go-Chicago"><img alt="Hash House a Go Go on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1692287/minilogo.gif" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/fTG87Bmb2KQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com45http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/02/hash-house-go-go.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-22609001375601845652014-02-17T05:42:00.000-06:002014-02-17T05:42:55.070-06:00Vapiano<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+s+wabash+chicago&amp;ll=41.882422,-87.626674&amp;spn=0.009761,0.01929&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=sb&amp;hnear=44+S+Wabash+Ave,+Chicago,+Illinois+60603&amp;gl=us&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">44 S Wabash</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> Probably about $15 per person<br /><br />It's easy to sell Jenny on <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Italian" target="_blank">Italian</a> restaurants. I mean, what's not to love about chicken and carbohydrates. To top that off, when you have the option to tinker with your dish it's even more up her alley. When <a href="http://www.vapiano.com/en/home/" target="_blank">Vapiano</a> asked me to come by and check out their new spot in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/The%20Loop" target="_blank">The Loop</a>, it seemed like a good match.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Vapiano has an interesting setup. You pick out a table and get a "credit card" so to speak. They have separate stations for appetizers, pizza, pasta, drinks, and desserts. I'd imagine they're jam packed for lunch, but there was practically no wait for dinner. Each "main" dish was in the $10 range. We split a bunch of items, making for what would have been a pretty inexpensive meal.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />To start things off we went with the Bruschetta Trio and the Insalata Mista. My favorite bruschetta was the Pesto and Parmesan. The salad was loaded with tomatoes, zucchini, and mozzarella.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7efjSegDMQ/UwGCPEQA1LI/AAAAAAAAH9Y/OxEteLxvJGA/s1600/Vapiano+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7efjSegDMQ/UwGCPEQA1LI/AAAAAAAAH9Y/OxEteLxvJGA/s1600/Vapiano+010.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Bruschetta Trio</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KhQ_4S5aesM/UwGCPSoOOtI/AAAAAAAAH9c/MvIGehsC1ac/s1600/Vapiano+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KhQ_4S5aesM/UwGCPSoOOtI/AAAAAAAAH9c/MvIGehsC1ac/s1600/Vapiano+013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Insalata Mista</i></div><br />We moved right on to pizza and pasta with the BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Salami E Ricotta Con Rucola. I know it's not the authentic way to go but we both have a soft spot for BBQ chicken pizza. The pasta was made that day, and the salami added a savory crisp to the dish.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj9ZwyCgCZ4/UwGDEHqGbXI/AAAAAAAAH9o/iXabcsXQ6VU/s1600/Vapiano+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj9ZwyCgCZ4/UwGDEHqGbXI/AAAAAAAAH9o/iXabcsXQ6VU/s1600/Vapiano+022.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The BBQ Chicken Pizza</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9AWV9zO5_J0/UwGDEoJGirI/AAAAAAAAH9s/-_wUpw2Gtmg/s1600/Vapiano+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9AWV9zO5_J0/UwGDEoJGirI/AAAAAAAAH9s/-_wUpw2Gtmg/s1600/Vapiano+026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Salami E Ricotta Con Rucola</i></div><br />For dessert we got the Chocolate Mousse. It was a smooth and rich way to round out the meal.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMBG2ZukIB0/UwGDSnKl2TI/AAAAAAAAH94/61DtLi-Y6ws/s1600/Vapiano+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMBG2ZukIB0/UwGDSnKl2TI/AAAAAAAAH94/61DtLi-Y6ws/s1600/Vapiano+032.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chocolate Mousse</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Vapiano puts a nice twist on Italian dining. There's a DIY feel to the whole thing that makes things casual in a creative setting. I really enjoyed the pasta and the salad. Since they invited me out, there won't be a Pearl rating, but I hope you check Vapiano out sometime soon.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1775150/restaurant/Loop/Vapiano-Chicago"><img alt="Vapiano on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1775150/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/nClLQ2OCkZ0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com328http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/02/vapiano.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-68960396260281403542014-02-10T06:37:00.000-06:002014-02-10T06:37:54.362-06:00Standard Market Grill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Standard+Market+Grill&amp;ll=41.927266,-87.64118&amp;spn=0.009754,0.01929&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=sb&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=standard+market+grill&amp;hnear=0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000,Chicago,+IL&amp;cid=9010965863334381581&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">444 W Fullerton</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $25 per person<br /><br />Arif, KVG, Jenny, and I were planning dinner the other week. Everyone was thinking somewhat casual, so I threw out some options to the group. We ended up choosing <a href="http://chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/" target="_blank">Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company</a>. It was freezing cold out that night, and a huge pizza pot pie seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately, when we got there the wait was 2+ hours. Without a clear plan, we aimlessly wandered up Clark St. When we got to Fullerton, we saw that this relatively new place had replaced what had previously been Zapatista.... <a href="http://www.standardmarketgrill.com/" target="_blank">Standard Market Grill</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />They've got this whole mixed order at the counter but you still get a waiter setup. The restaurant is split into a bar area that is relatively lively and a somewhat duller dining area. We took the quieter option off to the side. As far as costs and portions go, things were pretty fair. Most entrees were in the mid teens. One issue we ran into was that all four of our dishes came out at separate times.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />To start things off we went with the Chips and Guacamole which was a bit limey for my taste, but the warm chips scored them points.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vUdkWrpay-0/UvZ5LUcXIvI/AAAAAAAAH8A/yO2L0ZEu27w/s1600/Kan+Zaman+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vUdkWrpay-0/UvZ5LUcXIvI/AAAAAAAAH8A/yO2L0ZEu27w/s1600/Kan+Zaman+041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chips and Guac</i> </div><br />For the main course Jenny got the Grilled Salmon, Arif went with the Cali Burger, KVG got the Mustard Honey Chicken Sandwich, and I ordered the Iowa White Chicken. The salmon was a little under cooked and came with a decent portion of couscous and bok choy that were a bit bland. My chicken was appropriately prepared with some wilted spinach that kept the underseasoned theme going strong. The mashed potatoes were the star of the plate. Arif and KVG thought their sandwiches were just OK, and I didn't go reaching across the table for a bite or anything.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eIjNSUvTPHM/UvZ5cDmltVI/AAAAAAAAH8I/sha8UhnR85Y/s1600/Kan+Zaman+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eIjNSUvTPHM/UvZ5cDmltVI/AAAAAAAAH8I/sha8UhnR85Y/s1600/Kan+Zaman+044.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cali Burger</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu4hz4Hao2A/UvZ5cJM77iI/AAAAAAAAH8M/scXE2w3Wg2Y/s1600/Kan+Zaman+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu4hz4Hao2A/UvZ5cJM77iI/AAAAAAAAH8M/scXE2w3Wg2Y/s1600/Kan+Zaman+045.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M1bj9glBRWU/UvZ5c3No4yI/AAAAAAAAH8U/X5Ug60kqgPg/s1600/Kan+Zaman+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M1bj9glBRWU/UvZ5c3No4yI/AAAAAAAAH8U/X5Ug60kqgPg/s1600/Kan+Zaman+049.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Grilled Scottish Salmon</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjWd4YtpQMc/UvZ5dS-LotI/AAAAAAAAH8g/qbMgp2tmlBo/s1600/Kan+Zaman+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjWd4YtpQMc/UvZ5dS-LotI/AAAAAAAAH8g/qbMgp2tmlBo/s1600/Kan+Zaman+051.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Iowa White</i></div><br />For dessert, we went with Jenny's favorite, a Skillet Cookie with Ice Cream. The cookie was too well done and had more crunch than chew to it. Still, it's hard not to wolf one of those down.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmruptiPMvk/UvZ5rV0CsKI/AAAAAAAAH8o/0YSUcP2llE4/s1600/Kan+Zaman+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmruptiPMvk/UvZ5rV0CsKI/AAAAAAAAH8o/0YSUcP2llE4/s1600/Kan+Zaman+053.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cookie Skillet</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Standard Market Grill was a very average American dining experience. None of the dishes stood out all that much, but for the most part things were well prepared and appropriately priced per portion. It reminded me a bit of <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2013/12/doc-bs-fresh-kitchen.html" target="_blank">Doc B's</a> except with less excitement and subtler flavors. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/2.5%20Pearls" target="_blank">2.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMODW-VKW8g/UvZ5yeHmIdI/AAAAAAAAH8w/dIU14FOvuU4/s1600/2.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMODW-VKW8g/UvZ5yeHmIdI/AAAAAAAAH8w/dIU14FOvuU4/s1600/2.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1772868/restaurant/Lincoln-Park/Standard-Market-Grill-Chicago"><img alt="Standard Market Grill on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1772868/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/AiRveBBDX6M" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com11http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/02/standard-market-grill.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-9755147191188325322014-02-06T05:31:00.000-06:002014-02-06T05:31:56.089-06:00Gilt Bar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location: </b><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Gilt+Bar&amp;ll=41.889435,-87.635365&amp;spn=0.00976,0.01929&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=gilt+bar+chicago&amp;cid=10613932875608545534&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">230 W Kinzie</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $40 per person<br /><br />A little while ago I went to this holiday party at <a href="http://geneandgeorgetti.com/" target="_blank">Gene and Georgetti's</a>. Afterwards we tried to get some drinks down the road at <a href="http://www.giltbarchicago.com/" target="_blank">Gilt Bar</a>. Everyone was stuffed from the meal, but I was still able to take in some of the dishes floating by. In a sour turn of events they couldn't seat us, and we went over to <a href="http://www.moescantina.com/" target="_blank">Moe's Cantina</a>. A few weeks later, my friends Brett, Vadim, and Josh wanted to meet up for dinner. When Brett told me he'd preemptively made a reservation at Gilt Bar, I was pumped.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Gilt Bar is in the far southwest corner pocket of River North. It's got a dark, trendy interior. There's a cramped bar area up front with plenty of seating throughout the rest of the restaurant. We had a reservation which was pretty necessary even though we went mid week. Our waiter was helpful and appropriately hands off, letting us catch up and enjoy our drinks for a while prior to bringing out the food. The menu is more or less broken down into small plates, pastas, and entrees. The pastas were definitely entree sized though and ran around $14. The entrees were in the $20 ballpark.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />First off we went for the Roasted Garlic on Toast. The toast was exceptionally soft and warm while the roasted, oily garlic made for the perfect, bad breath inducing spread.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0wUVVolm2M/UvLcUfQfMNI/AAAAAAAAH60/k9u3T5Hywq8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0wUVVolm2M/UvLcUfQfMNI/AAAAAAAAH60/k9u3T5Hywq8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+029.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />From there we split a whole bunch of entrees including the Truffle Pasta, the Pork Meatballs, the Pork Belly, and the Fettuccine with Beef Ragu. The pasta was extra rich with plenty of pecorino cheese. The meatball was very tender with an acidic sauce. The pork belly came in a &nbsp;large portion with pickled onions and a bed of lentils. The fettuccine was my favorite. The pasta stuck together a bit with just the right chew. The ragu was savory and stuck to the bones. We got a side of roasted cauliflower and a side of fries. The cauliflower was too mushy and salty, but the fries were spot on with a nice crisp and this great garlic aioli sauce.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XnPxyTUM-I/UvLcmpRezYI/AAAAAAAAH68/YLPiQsooZw4/s1600/Kan+Zaman+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XnPxyTUM-I/UvLcmpRezYI/AAAAAAAAH68/YLPiQsooZw4/s1600/Kan+Zaman+031.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Pork Belly</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34YYeHGVZsQ/UvLcnavodGI/AAAAAAAAH7I/6yE8PBc2Jjg/s1600/Kan+Zaman+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34YYeHGVZsQ/UvLcnavodGI/AAAAAAAAH7I/6yE8PBc2Jjg/s1600/Kan+Zaman+036.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fettuccine</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ5yZFNP1E8/UvLcm3KvIYI/AAAAAAAAH7A/DNg7vxYIuIc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ5yZFNP1E8/UvLcm3KvIYI/AAAAAAAAH7A/DNg7vxYIuIc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Pork Meatballs</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kYUXpHivFo/UvLcoM829vI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/XZANlXQn5J4/s1600/Kan+Zaman+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kYUXpHivFo/UvLcoM829vI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/XZANlXQn5J4/s1600/Kan+Zaman+039.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Truffle Pasta</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SU_lHe2blx8/UvLc2JyAo4I/AAAAAAAAH7c/5xruoTiWVPs/s1600/Kan+Zaman+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SU_lHe2blx8/UvLc2JyAo4I/AAAAAAAAH7c/5xruoTiWVPs/s1600/Kan+Zaman+032.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The French Fries</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNL4X5WQQx8/UvLc2_VDeDI/AAAAAAAAH7k/spGeJHk2cz0/s1600/Kan+Zaman+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNL4X5WQQx8/UvLc2_VDeDI/AAAAAAAAH7k/spGeJHk2cz0/s1600/Kan+Zaman+034.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;The Cauliflower</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />We were all pretty impressed with Gilt Bar. The drink service was spot on, and the atmosphere was comfortable and trendy. Most every dish was well thought out and balanced. The pastas and the pork dishes left us stuffed, but I'll be back soon to check out the rest of the menu. I'm giving Gilt Bar <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/4.5%20Pearls" target="_blank">4.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ijW1PsfRN3k/UvLc_1aLtII/AAAAAAAAH7s/Ngk7pCqXXfY/s1600/4.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ijW1PsfRN3k/UvLc_1aLtII/AAAAAAAAH7s/Ngk7pCqXXfY/s1600/4.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1511302/restaurant/River-North/Gilt-Bar-Chicago"><img alt="Gilt Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1511302/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/ugBa5gx2K5s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com7http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/02/gilt-bar.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-2975136795540403872014-01-30T09:52:00.000-06:002014-01-30T09:52:55.118-06:00Pearl Tavern<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Pearl+Tavern&amp;ll=41.88664,-87.637231&amp;spn=0.00976,0.01929&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=pearl%27s+tavern&amp;hnear=0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000,Chicago,+IL&amp;cid=11784061965140293364&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">180 N Upper Wacker</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> Probably around $40 per person<br /><br />A while back, I brought my buddy Bill to a restaurant opening of sorts. They served rather unimpressive drinks and very small bites before the night came to an abrupt end. We quickly found a nearby bar and ordered some burgers. That being said, I aimed to make it up to Bill and asked him to join me once I got the invite to check out this new oyster bar in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/The%20Loop" target="_blank">The Loop</a>... <a href="http://www.pearltavern.com/" target="_blank">Pearl Tavern</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />The party was already rolling by the time Bill and I got there. They had everyone stationed in the sharp looking bar area with waiters passing out oysters and signature cocktails. Behind the cocktail area they've got this row of seated dining that overlooks the river. As it stands, I think they're still working on a patio of sorts, but they've got plenty of time before it's warm enough for any of that. The staff was young and energetic with plenty of guys in vests with interesting facial hair mixing up unique creations behind the bar. The feel was classy but not too upscale. From the raw bar, to the share plates, and finally the larger items, everything falls right around $12 a plate. You'll have to get a few things for your table, but the price probably won't add up to all that much.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />Between the drinks and raw bar items coming our way during the cocktail hour, I didn't really have a free hand to take too many pics. That aside, the oysters were fresh and had their own distinct flavors. Otherwise my favorite raw item was the tuna poke.<br /><br />From there we had a five course tasting of their large items. We started out with the Crab Churro, which was much like a slightly different shaped and different textured version of a crab rangoon. After that they brought out some Peel n' Eat Shrimp. With the heads on, they made for a bit of a mess, but like most good seafood they were worth the effort. The third course was a Grilled Octopus that met the right mark not being too chewy or too charred. Next up was the Gnocchi in a pistachoi emulsion sauce. It was substantially more filling than some of the other seafood dishes and made way for the final course, the Swordfish Au Poivre. It was very peppery with a great exterior char and internal flakiness.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JBq_QE0Y26M/UumRpW1BeJI/AAAAAAAAH6M/QVO_8mOk0rc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JBq_QE0Y26M/UumRpW1BeJI/AAAAAAAAH6M/QVO_8mOk0rc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+017.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Crab Churro</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXpbxvkeESw/UumRpQ2aXpI/AAAAAAAAH6I/c6WOIc6u9MQ/s1600/Kan+Zaman+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXpbxvkeESw/UumRpQ2aXpI/AAAAAAAAH6I/c6WOIc6u9MQ/s1600/Kan+Zaman+019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Peel n' Eat Shrimp</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SXfCQVznWnI/UumRoWuaopI/AAAAAAAAH6A/TiYQ_T7_8g8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SXfCQVznWnI/UumRoWuaopI/AAAAAAAAH6A/TiYQ_T7_8g8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+021.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Grilled Octopus</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UpBLbvYEhWg/UumRqTcNaJI/AAAAAAAAH6Y/XAzpTqxrmPY/s1600/Kan+Zaman+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UpBLbvYEhWg/UumRqTcNaJI/AAAAAAAAH6Y/XAzpTqxrmPY/s1600/Kan+Zaman+025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Gnocchi</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_h0CL44rIHs/UumRrScQWGI/AAAAAAAAH6g/bJFpl3qcEz8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_h0CL44rIHs/UumRrScQWGI/AAAAAAAAH6g/bJFpl3qcEz8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Swordfish</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Pearl Tavern has many great things to offer, in addition to its fantastic name. Far and away the best part of the meal was the raw bar cocktail hour. That being said, the Shrimp and the Swordfish were also darn tasty dishes. If you find yourself in the loop in search of some <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Seafood" target="_blank">seafood</a>, you've got a solid option.</div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1794719/restaurant/Loop/Pearl-Tavern-Chicago"><img alt="Pearl Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1794719/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/t2ROqjnUHlU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com6http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/pearl-tavern.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-1300690182846449322014-01-27T13:01:00.000-06:002014-01-27T13:05:21.542-06:00Kanela Breakfast Club<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location</b>: <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Kanela+Breakfast+Club&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=kanela+breakfast+club&amp;hnear=0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000,Chicago,+IL&amp;cid=14947446125319493254&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">3231 N Clark</a><br /><b>Cost: </b>&nbsp;About $18 per person<br /><br />The other weekend Jenny and her coworkers got together for brunch, and I thought it sounded like a perfect opportunity to embarrass her with corny jokes and making people wait to eat their food until I took a picture of it (for the record the photos are only of my and her food). Anyways, it was freezing cold, but the trek up to <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Lakeview" target="_blank">Lakeview</a> wasn't all that bad when they decided to try out <a href="http://kanelacafe.com/" target="_blank">Kanela Breakfast Club</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Kanela is on Clark street a bit north of Belmont. The storefront window was fogged over when we rolled in, and luckily they sat us in the well insulated back area of the dining room. It was pretty crowded, and I'd imagine the wait would have been a pain. Fortunately, we had a reservation. The cost is on par with the rest of the Chicago brunch scene with most dishes floating right around $10.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />With our decent sized group, we tried quite a bit of the menu, but I'll focus on mine and Jenny's food. She got the Kanela Roll and some sides while I went with the Lorraine Scramble. Her cinnamon roll of sorts was slathered in sauce and definitely softer than the <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2011/10/ann-sather.html" target="_blank">Ann Sather</a> version around the corner (although not nearly as big). My scramble had some peppered bacon, potatoes, over easy eggs, onions, and gruyere cheese in a skillet. It was very heavy on the bacon and cheese. The potatoes were a bit softer than I would've liked though, and one of my eggs was overdone.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eou6hKKvBEQ/UuasKP44clI/AAAAAAAAH5E/sG5RCVX3zhE/s1600/Chen%27s+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eou6hKKvBEQ/UuasKP44clI/AAAAAAAAH5E/sG5RCVX3zhE/s1600/Chen's+044.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Kanela Roll</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VdfsRNvaBk/UuasMUApNuI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/haVVsLcRUpk/s1600/Chen%27s+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VdfsRNvaBk/UuasMUApNuI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/haVVsLcRUpk/s1600/Chen's+045.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Lorraine Skillet</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbiRAdlsR10/UuasMNCCHzI/AAAAAAAAH5M/A5MTKcIfUi0/s1600/Chen%27s+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbiRAdlsR10/UuasMNCCHzI/AAAAAAAAH5M/A5MTKcIfUi0/s1600/Chen's+047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Buttermilk Pancakes</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Kanela Breakfast Club is a solid brunch spot in a city of variable options. They have a well rounded drink menu and plenty of good meal options for the sweet and savory fan alike. My skillet had a few common pitfalls, but the bacon more than made up for it. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/3%20Pearls" target="_blank">3 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pefFReDY8h0/UuascIdZp_I/AAAAAAAAH5c/idz5RiEII58/s1600/3+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pefFReDY8h0/UuascIdZp_I/AAAAAAAAH5c/idz5RiEII58/s1600/3+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1576080/restaurant/Lake-View/Kanelas-Breakfast-Club-Chicago"><img alt="Kanela's Breakfast Club on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1576080/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/UzXjGlDaGQg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com39http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/kanela-breakfast-club.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-36843835048423515072014-01-24T15:52:00.001-06:002014-01-24T15:52:47.049-06:00Kan Zaman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Kan+Zaman&amp;ll=41.894195,-87.633948&amp;spn=0.009759,0.01929&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;cid=8030423923881916326&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">617 N Wells</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $25 per person<br /><br />One of the Chicago food scene's best qualities is the wide variety of <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/BYOB" target="_blank">BYOB</a> options. Unfortunately, those places are limited (for the most part) to restaurants outside of the downtown and near north areas. Jenny, Arif, KVG, and Josh were in for dinner, but none of us wanted to go all that far. Luckily, we found a rare spot in <a href="http://www.kanzamanrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Kan Zaman</a> to fit our criteria.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Kan Zaman is on the western edge of <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/River%20North" target="_blank">River North</a>. The food is <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Mediterranean" target="_blank">Mediterranean</a>, and the atmosphere is pretty relaxed. The place was pretty empty which surprised us all since it was such a pain to make a reservation. The patrons that came in after us were all in larger parties. It was BYOB like I mentioned above, and there was a $3/person corkage fee. The food was pretty cheap at about $15 or less per entree, and the portions were large. Our service was fine although the food took some time to come out.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We started off with some Hummus, the Baba Ghannouj, and a plate of Dolma. The baba was my favorite of the appetizers, but I was hoping for a larger portion. The Dolma came warm, which tasted just fine but was a little unexpected. Everyone got the choice of soup or salad and went with the Lentil Soup since it was so cold outside. It was thick and warm without too much salt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpqnEzTwhjg/UuHg6A40erI/AAAAAAAAH34/mSs5RKPBuAA/s1600/Kan+Zaman+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpqnEzTwhjg/UuHg6A40erI/AAAAAAAAH34/mSs5RKPBuAA/s1600/Kan+Zaman+002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Baba Ghannouj</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcpKCGolk6k/UuHg6_f6-wI/AAAAAAAAH4A/8peiYL51FdQ/s1600/Kan+Zaman+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcpKCGolk6k/UuHg6_f6-wI/AAAAAAAAH4A/8peiYL51FdQ/s1600/Kan+Zaman+004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Hummus</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gosr627FkqM/UuHg6pqrfcI/AAAAAAAAH38/anV_g9JXQhc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gosr627FkqM/UuHg6pqrfcI/AAAAAAAAH38/anV_g9JXQhc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Dolma</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1CHPHq_uF4/UuHg7dfQYfI/AAAAAAAAH4I/LKg7Njm6cxc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1CHPHq_uF4/UuHg7dfQYfI/AAAAAAAAH4I/LKg7Njm6cxc/s1600/Kan+Zaman+008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lentil Soup</i></div><br />For the main course Jenny got the Shish Tawook, KVG got the Chicken Shawarma, Arif got the Beef Shawarma, Josh got the Kafta Kabob, and I got the Beef Shish Kabob. I think I came away with the best dish. The chunks of filet were a well seared medium rare. Each plate came with a hefty portion of grilled veggies and rice. The Shish Tawook was moist while the chicken shawarma was on the drier side. The beef shawarma and the kafta kabob were well seasoned but were both on the drier side as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IT5XIjymz4Q/UuHhb4NLjwI/AAAAAAAAH4g/iuiXXKkjs6A/s1600/Kan+Zaman+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IT5XIjymz4Q/UuHhb4NLjwI/AAAAAAAAH4g/iuiXXKkjs6A/s1600/Kan+Zaman+009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Shish Tawook</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6KH3C8k7Ivo/UuHhb450J7I/AAAAAAAAH4c/WA2OwyGgFd8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6KH3C8k7Ivo/UuHhb450J7I/AAAAAAAAH4c/WA2OwyGgFd8/s1600/Kan+Zaman+011.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Beef Kabob</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azNebCd27fo/UuHhbrJTtAI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/8_tyd9qeOXI/s1600/Kan+Zaman+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azNebCd27fo/UuHhbrJTtAI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/8_tyd9qeOXI/s1600/Kan+Zaman+013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Kefta Kabob</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />I'd heard that Kan Zaman had a lively atmosphere, but on this particular Friday night, it was dead. I appreciate the BYOB but not the corkage fee. The food was good for groups and relatively inexpensive, but multiple dishes missed on either preparation or seasoning. I'm giving Kan Zaman <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/2%20Pearls" target="_blank">2 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvtidCCT154/UuHhu7VhUII/AAAAAAAAH4w/Gmeqh14Q3Ek/s1600/2+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvtidCCT154/UuHhu7VhUII/AAAAAAAAH4w/Gmeqh14Q3Ek/s1600/2+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/13720/restaurant/River-North/Kan-Zaman-Chicago"><img alt="Kan Zaman on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/13720/minilogo.gif" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/1sIRiXTDAtc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com14http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/kan-zaman.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-16255026375815632702014-01-24T15:52:00.000-06:002014-01-24T15:52:31.895-06:00Expedition Brazil, Fogo de Chao [Sponsored Post]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I don't usually do much promotions, but I wanted to share something about this competition that <a href="http://expedition.fogo.com/" target="_blank">Fogo de Chao</a> has going on from now until February 16th. The general premise is to choose from 1 of 4 adventure options being sponsored and explain why you should be the one to go. They've got a cultural tour, a city based trip, a beach themed vacation, and a gaucho style experience. If you're fortunate enough, they might pick you. Check out more info <a href="http://expedition.fogo.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/VdyA83yYUbQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com4http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/expedition-brazil-fogo-de-chao.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-1255223462740301242014-01-19T13:28:00.001-06:002014-01-19T13:28:14.377-06:00Chen's<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1797238571"></span><span id="goog_1797238572"></span>Location:</b>&nbsp;<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Chens&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=chen%27s+chicago&amp;cid=7777128031759219471&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">3506 N Clark</a><br /><b>Cost:</b>&nbsp;About $15 per person<br /><br />The other night I was over at Jenny's, and it was way too cold to head out for dinner. Unfortunately, her fridge was even emptier than mine. We decided to order in, and after a heated debate, I was able to convince her to sway from <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Thai" target="_blank">Thai</a> and get some <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Chinese" target="_blank">Chinese</a>. We gave a few places a call and ended up ordering from <a href="http://www.chenschicago.com/" target="_blank">Chen's</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />I can't speak to the restaurant itself since we ordered in, but the delivery was very poorly serviced. They projected a 45 minute delivery time, and we ended up with a good hour and a half wait. When the food got there it was luke warm. The cost was reasonable with most entrees just north of $10 and a minimal delivery fee.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We ordered a bit more than need be, including the Spring Rolls, the Chicken Lo Mein, the Vegetable Fried Rice, and the Sesame Chicken. The spring rolls were too flaky and fell apart with one bite. The Lo Mein noodles were thick and chewy, but the dish itself was sitting in a pool of oil. The fried rice had plenty of egg and veggies but that too was on the greasier side, even for Chinese takeout. The Sesame Chicken was the biggest sufferer from the cooling results of a long delivery time. What I assume was once crispy became all too soggy chicken chunks. The sauce was sweet and rich though.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIWo3uRpWl0/UtwmtR8Zo2I/AAAAAAAAH3E/2PADgTjh9Xs/s1600/Chen%27s+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIWo3uRpWl0/UtwmtR8Zo2I/AAAAAAAAH3E/2PADgTjh9Xs/s1600/Chen's+010.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Spring Rolls</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsuIOB3TSFA/UtwmxiduVCI/AAAAAAAAH3U/keVy0dLviRc/s1600/Chen%27s+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsuIOB3TSFA/UtwmxiduVCI/AAAAAAAAH3U/keVy0dLviRc/s1600/Chen's+017.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Chicken Lo Mein</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEgLRyyJ_a4/UtwmwhJJ7-I/AAAAAAAAH3M/bPy0Nv80AhY/s1600/Chen%27s+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEgLRyyJ_a4/UtwmwhJJ7-I/AAAAAAAAH3M/bPy0Nv80AhY/s1600/Chen's+026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Vegetable Fried Rice</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5aeLCb1d_Ng/Utwm0vD6weI/AAAAAAAAH3c/5_gb_i-UY0c/s1600/Chen%27s+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5aeLCb1d_Ng/Utwm0vD6weI/AAAAAAAAH3c/5_gb_i-UY0c/s1600/Chen's+029.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Sesame Chicken</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Chen's was disappointing. Dishes were either too oily, too cold, or too mushy. I'm sure it'd be a little better if we went in for the meal, but even for delivery this was sub par. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/1.5%20Pearls" target="_blank">1.5 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYc6IJ-upvg/UtwnCMo0QDI/AAAAAAAAH3k/ByVGxE8fjpo/s1600/1.5+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYc6IJ-upvg/UtwnCMo0QDI/AAAAAAAAH3k/ByVGxE8fjpo/s1600/1.5+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><i>Note: Jenny disagrees with my opinions on this post... and she's always right.</i></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/11355/restaurant/Lake-View/Chens-Chinese-Sushi-Chicago"><img alt="Chens Chinese &amp; Sushi on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/11355/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/nPEnW_gjWUY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com16http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/chens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-78726864331199511052014-01-13T11:36:00.000-06:002014-01-13T11:36:43.452-06:00Park Tavern<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location: </b>5433 Park Place, Rosemont<br /><b>Cost: </b>About $25 per person<br /><b><br /></b>My friend Amanda and I had been trying to meet up for some time. Between her job and her obsession with holding our friend's new twin babies, she was really hard to pin down to some plans. We finally settled on meeting in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Rosemont">Rosemont</a> (it was in between the city and <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Arlington%20Heights">Arlington Heights</a> where she lives) at the <a href="http://www.parktavernrosemont.com/">Park Tavern</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />For the city dwellers out there, the whole MB park complex is pretty accessible by blue line and shuttle, but Amanda grabbed me at the station with her fiance Sal. Parking was a real pain and is very poorly organized. On top of all that, there was this big open skate ice rink drawing a ton of people and making getting to the restaurant itself quite the obstacle. We had a reservation which was surprisingly necessary (but that's probably just the elitist Chicagoan in me). Our waiter gave us plenty of space to hang out and take time with the meal. The cost was very reasonable with most sandwiches and entrees in the mid to low teens. They had a decent beer list too.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We could see from the tables nearby that the portion sizes were pretty large and decided to forego any appetizers. For the main course Amanda got the Angus Burger with some bacon and avocado, Sal got the Brisket Burger, and I got the House Smoked PBR Can Chicken. They were pretty happy with the burgers, and the fries were solid. My chicken was disappointing. There was this very strange, almost processed flavor to the smokiness. The texture was a little rubbery. The sides, on the other hand, were great. The brussel sprouts were left in large pieces with a good char. The jalapeno mac n' cheese had a good crisp from the burnt cheese on top with plenty of creaminess underneath.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs2UDeVhO_M/Us9xzMcX1HI/AAAAAAAAH2Q/nVzxFmj2j3E/s1600/j+rocco+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs2UDeVhO_M/Us9xzMcX1HI/AAAAAAAAH2Q/nVzxFmj2j3E/s1600/j+rocco+068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The House Smoked PBR Can Chicken&nbsp;</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhjIrIUQNmU/Us9x0TwbwDI/AAAAAAAAH2c/KXrd9wlk7zM/s1600/j+rocco+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhjIrIUQNmU/Us9x0TwbwDI/AAAAAAAAH2c/KXrd9wlk7zM/s1600/j+rocco+069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Jalapeno Mac n' Cheese</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hM_IiuaFQMo/Us9x0FAMWkI/AAAAAAAAH2Y/6cCj9JGDF5k/s1600/j+rocco+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hM_IiuaFQMo/Us9x0FAMWkI/AAAAAAAAH2Y/6cCj9JGDF5k/s1600/j+rocco+070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Brussel Sprouts</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7jCCFypxow/Us9x00eZdyI/AAAAAAAAH2k/i6kIFURBqRg/s1600/j+rocco+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7jCCFypxow/Us9x00eZdyI/AAAAAAAAH2k/i6kIFURBqRg/s1600/j+rocco+072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Angus Burger with Avocado and Bacon</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />The Park Tavern turned into another trip to Rosemont where the company outweighed the quality of the food (I don't mean my friends are fat or anything, just that the food was average). My chicken, which was touted on the menu as a special item, was just not up to snuff. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/2%20Pearls" target="_blank">2 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HT_4bkz7f5I/Us9x1D6NUII/AAAAAAAAH2g/kshbejOefKc/s1600/2+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HT_4bkz7f5I/Us9x1D6NUII/AAAAAAAAH2g/kshbejOefKc/s1600/2+Pearls.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1732254/restaurant/Chicago/Park-Tavern-Rosemont"><img alt="Park Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1732254/minilogo.gif" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/GUlDdcVvjCc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com16http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/park-tavern.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-41614814462743156632014-01-10T14:27:00.000-06:002014-01-10T14:27:30.376-06:00La Grande Vie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=La+Grande+Vie&amp;ll=41.899482,-87.621481&amp;spn=0.009758,0.01929&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=la+grande+vie+chicago&amp;cid=13703877960675476214&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">215 E Chestnut</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> Normally about $30 per person<br /><br />It had been a while since Josh, Lonnie, and I had gotten together. Fortunately, a newer restaurant a few blocks north of the hospital asked me to come by with some friends. That's how we ended up at <a href="http://www.lgvchicago.com/" target="_blank">La Grande Vie</a>. Despite the cold weather and snow pile up, my friends made the trek from the <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/West%20Loop" target="_blank">West Loop</a> to join in for a whole bunch of creative small plates.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />LGV is on Chestnut a bit east of the Hancock. There are a wide variety of seating options, and we pulled up in "lounge" area next to the bar. Our server, Cheikh, was very welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu. It's broken down into a variety of medium sized "small" plates, mostly in the $10-$15 range. We got enough to get a good feel of the menu, but a dish or two would probably be enough per person.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We put a lot of faith in our waiter who got us started with the Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Parsnips, the Chorizo Mac n' Cheese, and the Meatball Flatbread. The brussel sprouts had this great crisp and subtle sweetness. The mac n' cheese normally comes with pork belly, but they improvised with some smokey chorizo. The flatbread had these great juicy meatballs over a crispy base.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dktUmtGQiY/Us9qeKX_QRI/AAAAAAAAH00/kwd42g-v2So/s1600/j+rocco+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dktUmtGQiY/Us9qeKX_QRI/AAAAAAAAH00/kwd42g-v2So/s1600/j+rocco+041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Parsnips</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sqS2s_8oBYU/Us9qdK4nvmI/AAAAAAAAH0s/yFHLyhg5shE/s1600/j+rocco+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sqS2s_8oBYU/Us9qdK4nvmI/AAAAAAAAH0s/yFHLyhg5shE/s1600/j+rocco+044.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Chorizo Mac n' Cheese</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WY-jZU3myp0/Us9qeBMLkeI/AAAAAAAAH04/1-wiSu0l6pw/s1600/j+rocco+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WY-jZU3myp0/Us9qeBMLkeI/AAAAAAAAH04/1-wiSu0l6pw/s1600/j+rocco+047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Meatball Flatbread</i> </div><br />Our next course included the Slider Burger Trio, the Chicken Meatballs, and the Spicy Tail-On Shrimp. The sliders had one with beef and cheddar, one with lamb and goat cheese, and one with veal and blue cheese. The chicken meatball was crispy and served over a celery root puree with fresno chiles. The shrimp was one of my favorite dishes. It came over quinoa with avocados and peas. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o95v8dW0cPs/Us9q2ALXtII/AAAAAAAAH1E/m_v7fu1M7JM/s1600/j+rocco+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o95v8dW0cPs/Us9q2ALXtII/AAAAAAAAH1E/m_v7fu1M7JM/s1600/j+rocco+050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Slider Trio</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5EL9jQcy-E/Us9q243yIFI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/iMi_nSjUb98/s1600/j+rocco+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5EL9jQcy-E/Us9q243yIFI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/iMi_nSjUb98/s1600/j+rocco+051.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Spicy Tail-On Shrimp</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5JVOoaGGDk4/Us9q22OpI9I/AAAAAAAAH1M/dXyUfAeTgrU/s1600/j+rocco+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5JVOoaGGDk4/Us9q22OpI9I/AAAAAAAAH1M/dXyUfAeTgrU/s1600/j+rocco+053.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chicken Meatball</i></div><br />In case we were still hungry, they brought out Poached Mahi Mahi, Seared Strip Loin, and a Cherry Walnut Salad. The mahi mahi was buttery and flaky. The strip loin came with these great cheddar potato cakes. Finally, for dessert, we got this light and rich flourless chocolate cake.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WaeaBO38rg/Us9rR1nGA8I/AAAAAAAAH1c/ITdXD1qhKSQ/s1600/j+rocco+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WaeaBO38rg/Us9rR1nGA8I/AAAAAAAAH1c/ITdXD1qhKSQ/s1600/j+rocco+058.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Butter Poached Mahi Mahi</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1F6n105-DE/Us9rSHa2GOI/AAAAAAAAH1g/xZxwZbWx-PY/s1600/j+rocco+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1F6n105-DE/Us9rSHa2GOI/AAAAAAAAH1g/xZxwZbWx-PY/s1600/j+rocco+061.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Cast Iron Seared Strip Loin</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k8DqYoldx1E/Us9rSZUWWkI/AAAAAAAAH1k/T6to3FIbFSo/s1600/j+rocco+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k8DqYoldx1E/Us9rSZUWWkI/AAAAAAAAH1k/T6to3FIbFSo/s1600/j+rocco+062.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Walnut and Cherry Salad</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ME6No6-6WPs/Us9rTM-fpCI/AAAAAAAAH1s/tbWm4rkrlqs/s1600/j+rocco+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ME6No6-6WPs/Us9rTM-fpCI/AAAAAAAAH1s/tbWm4rkrlqs/s1600/j+rocco+064.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Flourless Chocolate Cake</i></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />La Grande Vie is hidden away in a quiet corner of the Gold Coast. It's within a stone's throw of the hospital and has a creative menu. Since they treated us, there will be no Pearl rating, but I suggest you check it out sometime soon.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1719910/restaurant/Streeterville/La-Grande-Vie-Chicago"><img alt="La Grande Vie on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1719910/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/cSW2dlDctCo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com3http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/la-grande-vie.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-51296961225179275852014-01-08T05:02:00.000-06:002014-01-08T05:02:31.836-06:00Stella Barra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Stella+Barra+Pizzeria,+N+Halsted+St,+Chicago,+IL&amp;hl=en&amp;ll=41.920545,-87.64869&amp;spn=0.009755,0.01929&amp;sll=41.833733,-87.731964&amp;sspn=0.625179,1.234589&amp;oq=stella+barra&amp;hq=Stella+Barra+Pizzeria,&amp;hnear=N+Halsted+St,+Chicago,+Illinois&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A" target="_blank">1954 N Halsted</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $20 per person<br /><br />In another edition of early bird Sunday night dinner with the Pearls, I bring you my write up on a new <a href="http://www.leye.com/">Lettuce Entertain You</a> spot, <a href="http://www.stellabarra.com/">Stella Barra</a>. My dad wanted pizza and something easy. Since we'd recently gone to <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2010/05/pequods-pizza.html">Pequod's</a>, I suggested we mix things up. Jenny came with us too.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />Stella Barra is in this new building that used to be Tilly's just south of Armitage on Halsted. It's part of a two restaurant building with a shared entrance. The feel is very family friendly with plenty of kids tossing dough at the counter for entertainment. It wasn't too loud, and there was a nice dim to the lights making you feel somewhat in your own world. There's plenty of street parking, which brings me to my first issue of the night. I parked in a well marked pay for parking spot just north of the valet zone. The valet came over and asked for my keys, and I refused since I was in the legal pay for parking zone. He then cursed at me and blamed me for causing trouble by ruining the valet zone. I thought this interaction was ridiculous for so many reasons, and thankfully the manager of the restaurant assured me that they wouldn't key my car. Once inside, the wait staff was great. We had a reservation too, which I suggest you make, at least while there's some hype.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We got the ball rolling with the house bread as well as the Burrata. The bread had this great textural contrast from crust to inside. The burrata was extra creamy and oily. It came with some delicious grapes, but I couldn't grip them because they were so oily. We also got the Heirloom Spinach and Purple Kale salad which was lightly dressed with an interesting spin from some dates and pecorino.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtZnwMysClI/UszScuxc_NI/AAAAAAAAHzo/U8wLQ55aUPU/s1600/j+rocco+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtZnwMysClI/UszScuxc_NI/AAAAAAAAHzo/U8wLQ55aUPU/s1600/j+rocco+022.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Burrata</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GlxzyBRP9wA/UszSdIMfLlI/AAAAAAAAHzs/j5KK7KP2lmA/s1600/j+rocco+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GlxzyBRP9wA/UszSdIMfLlI/AAAAAAAAHzs/j5KK7KP2lmA/s1600/j+rocco+026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Heirloom Spinach and Purple Kale Salad</i></div><br />Then we split the Butternut Squash Pizza, the Margherita Pizza, and the Turkey Meatballs. The meatballs came in a thick sauce that stuck to the bones (your bones, there were no bones in the meatballs). I think these would have made Schneider proud, and I didn't even have to do the dishes. The pizza crusts were chewy with a nice variable crisp at burnt points. The sauce on the margherita was too sweet for me. The butternut squash had a complex group of flavors but there was this musty smell that I couldn't get past.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7JKUkTvenE/UszSrTFAmdI/AAAAAAAAHz4/KtBgvzpotLE/s1600/j+rocco+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7JKUkTvenE/UszSrTFAmdI/AAAAAAAAHz4/KtBgvzpotLE/s1600/j+rocco+028.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Meatball</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FChJyzvnU3A/UszStPj6pxI/AAAAAAAAH0E/v78E3TuS088/s1600/j+rocco+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FChJyzvnU3A/UszStPj6pxI/AAAAAAAAH0E/v78E3TuS088/s1600/j+rocco+031.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Butternut Squash Pizza</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GEKkUbLWtgM/UszSsn24MAI/AAAAAAAAH0A/X_K6jlrtgYg/s1600/j+rocco+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GEKkUbLWtgM/UszSsn24MAI/AAAAAAAAH0A/X_K6jlrtgYg/s1600/j+rocco+032.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Margherita Pizza</i></div><br />For dessert we ordered this caramel panna cotta concoction of sorts. It was creamy and all, but the sweetness was overwhelming.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cChVEt3oZKc/UszS4dJOs-I/AAAAAAAAH0Q/YaZkYtz9ISk/s1600/j+rocco+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cChVEt3oZKc/UszS4dJOs-I/AAAAAAAAH0Q/YaZkYtz9ISk/s1600/j+rocco+036.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />Our meal at Stella Barra got off to a great start with the appetizer course and peaked right there. With a ton of places in Chicago making great thin crust / brick oven pizza, I wasn't all that blown away here. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/2%20Pearls" target="_blank">2 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10EXjvEdxCs/UszS9IAMO5I/AAAAAAAAH0Y/RyiG5hUv6M8/s1600/2+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10EXjvEdxCs/UszS9IAMO5I/AAAAAAAAH0Y/RyiG5hUv6M8/s1600/2+Pearls.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1784548/restaurant/Lincoln-Park/Stella-Barra-Pizzeria-Chicago"><img alt="Stella Barra Pizzeria on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1784548/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/EgXQCJ1gVOM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com7http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/stella-barra.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830332512473627724.post-83423404397265627092014-01-04T11:32:00.000-06:002014-01-04T21:42:26.921-06:00J. Rocco<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=j+rocco+chicago&amp;ll=41.910964,-87.631073&amp;spn=0.078054,0.154324&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hq=j+rocco&amp;hnear=Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois&amp;t=m&amp;z=13&amp;iwloc=A">749 N Clark</a><br /><b>Cost:</b> About $40 per person<br /><br />After a busy week at work, there were plans for Jenny and I to double date with Arif and KVG. Then I found out Kristin had to work and for the first time in a long while, I was not the third wheel. Anyways, we wanted something reasonably priced but on the nicer side of things in <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/River%20North">River North</a> or <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Streeterville">Streeterville</a>. I remembered reading something in <a href="http://www.chicagomag.com/">Chicago Magazine</a> about this newer <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/Italian">Italian</a> place around the corner from my apartment, which is how we ended up at <a href="http://www.jroccoitalian.com/">J. Rocco</a>.<br /><br /><b>Logistics</b><br />J. Rocco is a relatively new spot in River North that didn't get a ton of publicity upon opening. So, it wasn't a problem getting a last minute Friday night reservation. There's a good amount of street parking nearby although we all walked. The atmosphere is dark and somewhat romantic, but there were a few occasional rowdy groups tossed in there as well. Our service was quick and attentive. The cost is reasonable with most pastas in the upper teens and the mains a little more than $20 each. I think they had a big upstairs space for groups too if that's something you're looking for.<br /><br /><b>The Food</b><br />We started off by sharing the Minestrone and the Mussels Soup. The minestrone was thicker with plenty of beans. I thought the swiss chard pieces were too large to eat without making a mess. The mussels had this great broth, and it was a great, smaller, cheaper alternative to the typical large bowl of mussels you can get elsewhere. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJLb5bxwdVk/UsYnSjv-Q_I/AAAAAAAAHyg/QuJ1OTWzdaQ/s1600/j+rocco+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJLb5bxwdVk/UsYnSjv-Q_I/AAAAAAAAHyg/QuJ1OTWzdaQ/s320/j+rocco+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Mussels Soup</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2DIRrFDXvc/UsYnSv9AziI/AAAAAAAAHyc/ozEQ0AbwNmo/s1600/j+rocco+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2DIRrFDXvc/UsYnSv9AziI/AAAAAAAAHyc/ozEQ0AbwNmo/s320/j+rocco+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Minestrone Soup</i></div><br />From there we got some apps including the Burrata with Mom's Gravy and the Lamb Meatballs. The cheese went well with the oily marinara. The bread was a bit burnt which added a nice extra level of flavor. The meatballs were complex and had a ton of garlic flavor. They do these meatball specials during the week that have got to be totally worth it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2RjOlV_ai4/UsYnsp3cyJI/AAAAAAAAHys/LuRJyM0wgKs/s1600/j+rocco+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2RjOlV_ai4/UsYnsp3cyJI/AAAAAAAAHys/LuRJyM0wgKs/s320/j+rocco+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Burrata</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJY6JNzzGzA/UsYns3uIhnI/AAAAAAAAHyw/9mVNTxjQFDY/s1600/j+rocco+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJY6JNzzGzA/UsYns3uIhnI/AAAAAAAAHyw/9mVNTxjQFDY/s320/j+rocco+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lamb Meatballs</i> </div><br />For the main course Jenny got the Fusilli, Arif got the Tagliatelle, and I went with the Half Chicken. All of the pastas were made in house. The fusilli had pulled chicken, pine nuts, spinach, and roasted pepper in a cream sauce. Pasta with chicken and cream sauce is basically Jenny's thing, and accordingly she loved it. The tagliatelle had this savory pork belly and veal chuck. Both pastas had a great chew and were well coated in their respective sauces. The chicken was really juicy in an appropriately thick lemon rosemary sauce. It came over a bed of potatoes that were severely underdone though.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vORmuI8kLCQ/UsYoDwsgHeI/AAAAAAAAHzA/MyGr5g4CQGE/s1600/j+rocco+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vORmuI8kLCQ/UsYoDwsgHeI/AAAAAAAAHzA/MyGr5g4CQGE/s320/j+rocco+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Half Chicken</i> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4FhhnGOkAyY/UsYoD8iWUSI/AAAAAAAAHy8/fvb6VGkJMZI/s1600/j+rocco+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4FhhnGOkAyY/UsYoD8iWUSI/AAAAAAAAHy8/fvb6VGkJMZI/s320/j+rocco+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>The Fusilli</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Ts0kGlwv8/UsYoEf9ApVI/AAAAAAAAHzE/UYMBceKwehw/s1600/j+rocco+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Ts0kGlwv8/UsYoEf9ApVI/AAAAAAAAHzE/UYMBceKwehw/s320/j+rocco+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Tagliatelle</i> </div><br /><b>Overall</b><br />I was pretty impressed by J. Rocco. The meatballs, mussels, and pasta were my favorites. There were a few hiccups, but I'm pretty excited to have a good Italian option right down the road. I'm giving them <a href="http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/search/label/4%20Pearls">4 out of 5 Pearls</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YBQTXC0zAno/UsYoTpIDq5I/AAAAAAAAHzU/PqLNU1McfV8/s1600/4+Pearls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YBQTXC0zAno/UsYoTpIDq5I/AAAAAAAAHzU/PqLNU1McfV8/s320/4+Pearls.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1751273/restaurant/River-North/J-Rocco-Italian-Table-Bar-Chicago"><img alt="J. Rocco Italian Table &amp; Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1751273/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JeffEatsChicago/~4/szjR2FFBQlI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060558751790121297noreply@blogger.com4http://www.jeffeatschicago.com/2014/01/j-rocco.html